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The Break Room

Changing Up Your Interview

Feb 03, 2016

Still asking those same tired interview questions? With all the innovations in work-place community and culture, it’s important to make sure you are hiring employees that will compliment your work atmosphere and be a positive addition to your workforce. Here are a few things you can do to change-up your interview so you can make sure they are the right fit for the job.

Do Your Research

Did you read that resume thoroughly before setting up a time to meet, or did you skim it? You expect your candidates to know what job they are applying for, so the same should go for you. Look for more than just gaps in work history; check out the details that they put into their resume. This way you can ask them questions that are specific to them and will show your candidates that you know your stuff

Avoid Yes or No Questions

Asking a candidate IF they enjoyed their past position will not only land you with a short “yes” or “no” but will also leave you with very little input as to what that history was like. Make sure you are asking questions that require thought and elaboration. If you are asking a question that could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”, ask why. The devil is in the details, and the more your candidate tells you, the more you will know about their personality.

Don’t Ask, “Why would you be a good fit?”

While this might seem like the perfect question for your candidate to get them to tell you why they should be hired, this question is old and worn. Candidates are well prepped and rehearsed to tell you why they will fit into your company, when honestly, how would they know? They haven’t spent a day in the workplace or experienced what the job will be like. Instead, perhaps ask “What kind of company culture would you feel most comfortable in?” This way you are getting an honest answer without all the fluff.

Throw Them a Curve Ball

Don’t be afraid to ask them something silly. How do you eat an Oreo? If you had your own baseball team, what would its name be? These might seem a little ridiculous, but questions like this can not only lighten the mood in a tense interview, but can get your candidate to open up and really show their personality.

Switching up your interview allows you to make sure you are ahead of the game when looking at new candidates. What kind of things do you do to change up your interview?